Ohioans may have a chance to decide on legalizing adult-use cannabis if a ballot measure qualifies for the November election.
The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol submitted the initiative Wednesday, July 5. According to a spokesman for the Ohio Secretary of State, the activist group said it was filing 222,233 signatures. The minimum valid signatures required is 124,046.
The spokesman said it will take a couple of weeks for the Secretary of State’s office to inspect signatures, then the various county boards of elections would need to verify them by July 20.
This is the second time the coalition has tried an adult use initiative, according to Marijuana Moment. After a citizens’ petition failed to move forward last year over alleged procedural issues, a court settlement with state officials allowed the coalition to press forward with a petition drive if the legislature didn’t act on the initiative within four months this legislative session.
Ohio has had a medical cannabis program since 2016 and has approximately 363,000 registered patients. According to the CRB Monitor database, there are 36 active cultivator licenses, 55 manufacturing/processing licenses and 133 retail/dispensary licenses, as of June 26.
A poll by Spectrum News/Siena College last year showed a majority of Ohioans support legalizing recreational cannabis.
And although the state legislature didn’t act on this initiative, an adult-use legalization bill was introduced in May and sits with the House Finance Committee.
New regulator to expand cannabis business program
The initiative would allow possession of up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis or 15 grams of concentrates by adults 21 and older. Individuals could grow six plants, up to a maximum 12 plants per household.
A new Division of Cannabis Control under the Dept. of Commerce would regulate and license cannabis businesses. It would be required to issue adult-use licenses to current medical-use businesses within nine months of the effective date of the act. Applications would be available within six months.
Currently, the state has two levels of cultivator licenses. Level I cultivators can grow up to 25,000 square feet. Level II cultivators are initially limited to 3,000 square feet and can expand upon request to the division.
This initiative would allow Level I cultivators to expand their grow area to 100,000 square feet upon granting of an adult-use license. Level II cultivators could grow up to 15,000 square feet. A new Level III cultivator license would allow areas up to 5,000 square feet, with expansions upon request.
The DCC would be required to issue 40 Level III cultivator licenses and 50 adult-use dispensary licenses, with priority given to participants in the cannabis social equity and jobs program, which would be created under this initiative. More licenses could be issued two years after the first is approved.
Local governments could restrict new adult-use businesses, but they could not prevent current medical-use facilities from converting to adult use.
Additionally, a 10% sales tax would be imposed with proceeds going toward social equity and jobs programs; localities allowing adult use; education and substance abuse programs; and administrative costs.
Maryland adult-use sales start strong
Marylanders were lighting up more than fireworks this Independence Day weekend as the state launched its adult-use sales program on Saturday.
Gov. Wes Moore signed SB 516 in May, which legalized possession of up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis or 12 grams of concentrate by adults over age 21.
The new law also established the Maryland Cannabis Administration to regulate the adult-use industry. The administration was required to convert existing medical-use businesses to adult-use by July 1, if they applied. There are 97 active retail dispensaries in Maryland as of June 26, according to the CRB Monitor database.
The MCA issued its first weekend report showing adult-use sales tallied $10 million. Medical-use sales were approximately $4 million, Friday through Sunday.
